AUS vs SL, 2nd Test: Patterson, Head score maiden Test hundreds; Sri Lanka trail by 500 runs

Sparking great careers in the Baggy Green, Kurtis Patterson (114*) and Travis Head (161) became the first Aussies since Steve Waugh and Mark Taylor to score maiden hundreds in the same Test innings.

Australia’s Kurtis Patterson scored his maiden Test hundred off 173 balls on Saturday in the second Test against Sri Lanka. Sparking great careers in the Baggy Green, Kurtis Patterson (114*) and Travis Head (161) became the first Aussies since Steve Waugh and Mark Taylor to score maiden hundreds in the same Test innings.

Australia soon declared their innings at 534/5 giving the Sri Lankan batsmen an uphill task on a beautiful deck to bat on. Earlier, on Day one at stumps, Australia were at a commanding 384/4 with Joe Burns and Kurtis Patterson on the crease.

It was for the first time in 30 years since two Aussie batsmen have scored their maiden ton in the same Test innings. Earlier, Australia batting greats Waugh and Mark Taylor had scored their maiden Test hundreds at Leeds in 1989.

It appears that both Patterson and Head now have the chance to begin the resurrection of what is now Australia's average Test team.

Patterson's family in the stands overcame with joy as he scored his maiden Test match hundred.

This is special.

What a moment for Kurtis Patterson and his family! #AUSvSL pic.twitter.com/ISvg2d5Sl8

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) February 2, 2019

Following on from Head's 161 on day one, Patterson was positive as he confidently scored his maiden ton for Australia.

"To be honest, I probably overthought it I reckon, going into the first Test," he told cricket.com.au on Friday.

"Once I got out there it felt like another game of cricket with a few more people in the stands.

"That was a positive for me, to go out there and feel like it was another game of Shield cricket.

"I'm hoping this is a nice experience down here in Canberra for the first Test and once you get out there the initial nerves calm down and it's just another game of cricket."

Australia: Tim Paine (c/wk), Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Kurtis Patterson, Will Pucovski, Jhye Richardson, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis

Sri Lanka: Dinesh Chandimal (c), Dimuth Karunaratne, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dhananjaya de Silva, Roshen Silva, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Kusal Perera, Dilruwan Perera, Lakshan Sandakan, Suranga Lakmal, Kasun Rajitha, Chamika Karunaratne, Vishwa Fernando